1920 Newspaper Headlines Summary
Our collection of 1920 newspaper headlines feature evidence of some of history’s most notable events. Did you know that in 1920 women were granted the right to receive degrees from Oxford University? The League of Nations holds its first meeting during this year in London, and the first roller coaster opened in Britain.
A lot was going on across the Atlantic, too. After her husband President Woodrow Wilson suffered a blood clot and became paralysed and unresponsive, First Lady Edith Wilson took over and became de-facto president of the United States, running the Oval Office for 17 months. Women in the US were also granted the right to vote, and the Ku Klux Klan terrorised the nation with their racially motivated attacks. Our collection features 1920s newspaper articles from some of Britain’s best and most trusted newspapers.
January 17th 1920
Marks the first day of Prohibition coming into effect in the US due to the 18th amendment.
January 23rd 1920
The Dutch refuse to turn over German Emperor and King of Prussia, Wilhelm II to allies.
January 29th 1920
Animator, Walt Disney starts work with artist KC Slide Co, beginning his career in the film industry.
May 5th 1920
Bartolomeo Vanzetii and Nicola Sacco are arrested on robbery charges in Massachusetts, US and set to be executed.
July 1st 1920
George Duncan shoots a 303 at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club during the 55th British Golf Open.
July 21st 1920
Street violence breaks out between Irish Nationalists and Loyalists on the issue of Irish independence from Britain. 1500 British Auxiliaries and 5800 British troops reinforce Loyalists.
August 16th 1920
Yankees pitcher, Carl Mays, hits Ray Chapman of Indians on the head. Chapman dies the following day. It’s the only major league fatality in history.
September 6th 1920
Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Jack Dempsey, KOs Billy Miske in 1st radio broadcast for the heavyweight boxing title prize fight.
October 27th 1920
Sir Percy Cox lands in Basra. He assumes his responsibilities as high commissioner in Iraq.
November 11th 1920
The Cenotaph in Whitehall, designed by Edwin Lutyens is unveiled as Great Britain’s monument to honour those who died in WWI.
December 10th 1920
Zoo Physiologist and Nobel Laureate, August Krogh is awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the regulation mechanisms of capillaries in skeletal muscle.
December 19th 1920
After the death of his son Alexander I of Greece and a plebiscite, King Constantine I is restored as King of the Hellenes.
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